Important Figures in Watch History: Charles Lindbergh

Charles Lindbergh isn’t just responsible for the world’s first transatlantic flight, but ushering in the beginning of modern aviation timepieces. After his famous flight from New York to Paris in 1927, watchmaker Longines approached the pilot about collaborating to create a watch that would help fellow aviators on these new long-haul flights. Together, Lindbergh and Longines created the Hour Angle Watch in 1931.

Here is a the watch that was a landmark for Longiness and Charles Lindberg. (Credit:Quill and Pad)

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The Original Hour Angle

While the Longiness’ watch collection is quite fascinating and held in high regard, this one clocks in with amazing history. Weighing in at 47.5mm, this watch was large, and for good reason. The face of the watch has a lot to display — but it was most famously outfitted with the ability to measure the various angles of sunlight and help pilots determine their location, amongst other impressive navigational data. Nowadays we have GPS and other high-tech navigation techniques, but back then, this technology was absolutely revolutionary — let alone that you could wear it on your wrist.

Without the watch he’d go on to create a few years later, Lindbergh used what’s called ‘dead reckoning’ to navigate his way across the Atlantic ocean. Which, essentially, is a combination of measuring your speed against the time you’ve been flying and your direction. Today, pilots jokingly call it, ‘looking out the window.’ And Legend has it, as Lindberg approached Europe, he buzzed a fishing boat and asked, “Which way is Ireland?”

Charles Lindbergh (1902-74) in his flying kit standing in ‘Spirit of St Louis’, the plane in which he made the first non-stop Atlantic air crossing: 20-21 May 1927. (Credit: Time Magazine)

It’s safe to say this new technology in the watch he created with Longines was transformational to not only timepiece technology, but helping modern aviation push forward into the future. Perhaps the John Harrison of his generation.

Other notable features of the watch include a rotating bezel which you can adjust backwards or forwards to the minutes that equals the Equation of Time for that day — let’s just say there was a lot of complicated math and maneuvering you had to do to utilize this watch’s navigational tech. Another interesting element of the original Hour Angle was that it was built with a converted pocket watch movement, because at that time, wristwatches still weren’t all that popular.

With a new version released in 2017, this watch is sure to last a lifetime. (Credit: Time and Tide)

The 90th Anniversary edition

Last year, at Baselworld 2017, Longines released their 90th-anniversary edition of this classic and historical watch. Now, the watchmaker had released re-issues of this before, but the anniversary edition is especially sharp while still taking direct inspiration from the original.

Like the 1931 Hour Angle, this timepiece is housed within an oversized 47.5mm case, but this time, outfitted in titanium. There’s also a rotating bezel, this time in slick, black PVD steel. The dial is a bit different, though, with a black disk right in the center that draws your eye in like a pupil. This also rotates to synchronize the seconds with a radio time signal. The face is also outfitted with black Roman numerals (like the original) and a killer brushed-silver dial. And unlike the original Hour Angle that was built around a converted pocket watch movement, this model has its own Caliber L699 self-winding movement with that famously-big crown you can even twist with gloves on

Today, while pilots don’t need to rely on the tech these pilot watches provide, the intricate details and mechanisms of aviation watches are still put on display — even if just for fun and fashion. This attention to detail has made pilots watches some of the most beautiful, and desirable timepieces on the market today. And because of this, we think it’s safe to say Lindbergh not only changed modern aviation, but watchmaking for the better.

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About Paul Altieri

Paul is the company's Founder and CEO. He is responsible for all the day to day activities from purchasing, receiving, marketing and sales. Paul is a graduate of Boston College 1979 and resides in California with his family.

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